To Original Poster:
Actually, that is not a lot to ask from Metheny. There is something to like about all of Metheny's work, but the following albums are in my opinion is finest works. You need to hear all of these albums in their entirety to even begin to understand how talented Metheny is. You really don't want to miss any of these but if you have to, I would prioritize your purchases in this order:
1. Pat Metheny Group (ECM)
2. Offramp (ECM)
3. As Falls Wichita, So Wichita Falls (ECM)
4. Still Life (Talking)
5. First Circle (ECM)
6. Bright Size Life (ECM)
7. Letter from Home
8. Secret Story
9. Watercolors (ECM)
10.The Road to You
I think those are his most significant works. A lot of his other stuff post 1993 is just not in the same tier, in my opinion.
Also note that the ECM recordings represent his first phase, while the later Geffen recordings have a totally different, more commercial sound. It is not uncommon to hear Letter from Home, for example, playing in airports and shopping malls, ect. The ECM stuff is the stuff that has the most staying power as "jazz" or fusion in my opinion. All of the ECM recordings also have very good sound.
I ranked the albums according to my personal taste but you could also start with Pat Metheny Group and just go chronologically through his catalog and you would be able to hear how the group progressed.
